Marshall Falls 7-4 to Memphis in Women's Softball

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Memphis won two softball games playing against Marshall University at Dot Hicks Field on Saturday and Sunday. The third game that was in progress on Sunday afternoon was stopped because of a drop dead time rule. The second contest was cancelled just shy of hitting regulation.

In the first game on Sunday afternoon Marshall was very much in the game being down to Memphis with a 4-3 lead. It was home run hitter Kailey Kassner that put the icing on the cake for Memphis when she hit a home run with two base runners to give Memphis a 7-3 lead in the top of the sixth inning.

Marshall's Alysia Hively was able to hit a home run to make the score 7-4. Memphis pitchers Lauren Carley and Janelle Valle teamed up for the win.

The Thundering Herd moves to 15-22 overall and 1-10 in Conference USA with Sunday’s loss. In game two, Marshall was ahead 1-0 in the top of the fifth before officials declared the game cancelled due to a predetermined drop dead time of 4:15 p.m. Memphis captured the series with two wins, improving them to 25-10 overall and 8-6 in C-USA.

In a battle of the Valle sisters, Marshall’s Jazmine Valle came out on top during her at-bat in the bottom of the second with a solo homer to left center putting the Herd ahead 1-0. MU scored two additional runs in the frame after a ground-rule double to left center by Taylor Winton plated pinch runners Morgan Cottrell and Taylor Thompson. The Herd led 3-0 heading into the third.

A deadly inning in the fourth plagued the Herd as Memphis was able to score four runs on four hits and two Marshall miscues to take a 4-3 lead as Natalee Pulver came in relief of Andi Williamson during the frame. Pulver would go down as the pitcher of record, dropping her to 7-11 on the year after closing the final 3.1 innings.

Kailey Kassner added safety in a 7-3 Tigers lead after a three-RBI homer to left in the top of the sixth put Marshall in a deeper hole late in the game.

Alysia Hively answered back though in the bottom of the frame with a solo homer to chisel at the lead, pitting the game at 7-4 going into the final stanza. The late rally would not be enough however as Marshall eventually fell 7-4 in the second contest of the conference series.

Reliever Lauren Carley improves to an even 4-4 record with the win, as starter Janelle Valle left the circle after 1.1 innings of work. Carley closed the final 5.2 frames with a pair of strikeouts.

Up next for the Thundering Herd is a doubleheader on Wednesday, April 13 against Kentucky. Games are slated for a 3 p.m. start.